If you start a postgraduate doctoral course - such as a PhD - from September 2018, you may be able to apply for a government-backed loan. A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help contribute towards course fees and living costs while you study. They are open to students studying full-time or part-time.

Please refer to the government website for the most up to date information on applying for September 2018 entry.

The film below from Student Finance England provides an introduction to Postgraduate Doctoral Loans for the 2018/19 cycle:

Eligibility

Eligibility for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan will depend on:

your course

your age

your nationality or residency status

other types of funding being received in relation to your postgraduate doctoral study

Doctoral course title format

When completing your Doctoral Loan application with Student Finance England you will be asked to state the course you intend on studying. This will be formatted as follows:

Doctoral Course in [name of school] [FT/PT - full-time or part-time]

If you were to be studying a full-time doctoral course in the School of English then you would select:

Doctoral Course in English FT

If you were to be studying a part-time course in the School of Geography then you would select:

Doctoral Course in Geography PT

The name of your school is detailed on your offer letter.

If you cannot find a course that is specifically linked to your school in this way then please contact the funding team.

Registering with the University

If you apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan, and it is approved, the Student Loan Company will send the University your details and you should then be able to register.

If you are approved for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan you do not need to pay your fees up front, as you will be able to set up an instalment plan to pay the fee in three instalments. If you have any problems with this you should contact the student funding team.

How to receive your funding

To receive your loan you will need to have registered, had your identity checked and to confirm you meet all of the eligibility criteria via an online declaration form. After the University confirms your registration with the Student Loan Company the loan is paid directly to you, and can be used as a contribution towards your course fees or living costs.

The loan payments will be divided equally across each year of your course, excluding any overtime period.

A full-time doctoral course at the University has a duration of three years meaning your Doctoral Loan would be paid to you in full over that period.

A part-time doctoral course at the University has a duration of five years meaning your Doctoral loan would be paid to you in full over that period.

If you go into an overtime period, or are granted an extension beyond these standard durations, then no further government funding will be available to you as you will have received your entitlement in full.